Chrysanthemum plant named Regal Desiree

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Regal Desiree particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; dark purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 25 to 29 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 42 to 47 days; plant height with 14 to 15 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 18 to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; small dark green foliage; branching pattern is spreading and very prolific, each plant having 6 to 8 laterals after pinch; very floriferous, with an excellent display of many small flowers; and excellent tolerance to high temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Regal Desiree.

Regal Desiree, identified as 4124 (86-666C13), is a product of amutation induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selectedby Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Jan. 30, 1990 in a controlled environmentin Salinas, Calif., as one flowering plant within a flowering blockestablished as rooted cuttings from stock plants which has been exposedas unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1750 rads in Fort Myers,Fla., on Jul. 13, 1989. The irradiated parent cultivar was the cultivaridentified as Desiree, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,500, anddescribed as a daisy spray pot mum with a flat capitulum form; a lightpurple ray floret color with the underside of the ray florets and theflower buds both being dark purple; diameter across face of capitulum of30 to 32 mm when fully opened; flowering response period of 42 to 46days after start of short days; plant height of 18 to 23 cm with 1 to 2applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15cm pot; small dark green foliage; spreading and very prolific branchingpattern, with 6 to 8 laterals after pinch; very floriferous, with anexcellent display of many small flowers; and excellent tolerance to hightemperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The irradiation program resulting in Regal Desiree has as its primaryobjective the expansion of color ranges of the parent cultivar Desiree.The irradiation program comprises irradiating cuttings of the parentcultivar at irradation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of1407 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plants wereplanted on Nov. 6, Oct. 23 and Oct. 2, 1989. Of these, 25 initialselections were made, which selections were then revegetated andreflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding 23 ofthe original 25 selections on Oct. 26, 1990. Two selections wereretained. One of these selections, referred to as Light Bronze Desiree,was discarded on Nov. 20, 1991, and the one remaining selection will beintroduced as Regal Desiree.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Regal Desiree was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Apr.1990 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Regal Desiree are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Regal Desiree has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif., under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Regal Desiree, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Dark purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 25 to 29 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 42 to 47 days.

6. Plant height, with 14 to 15 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings, and with 0 to 1 applications of 250 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 18to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

7. Small dark green foliage.

8. Branching pattern is spreading and very prolific, each plant having 6to 8 laterals after pinch.

9. Very floriferous, with an excellent display of many small flowers.

10. Excellent tolerance to high temperatures for bud initiation andflower development.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a side view of a potted mum ofRegal Desiree, with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with the colors being asnearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Regal Desiree is the parent Desiree. All traits of RegalDesiree are similar to those of Desiree, except for the ray floret colorand the diameter of capitulum. The ray floret color of Regal Desiree issignificantly darker than the ray floret color of Desiree. The diameterof capitulum of Regal Desiree is 3 to 5 mm smaller than the diameter ofcapitulum of Desiree.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif., onJul. 22, 1991.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Regal Desiree.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--25 to 29 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Dark purple.

Color (upper surface).--Color is between 61A and 71A.

Color (under surface).--Closest to 72A. The base of the ray florets iswhite on both upper and under side. This white portion of the ray floretis slightly visible on the under side, but is not visible on the upperside, being covered by the disc florets.

Shape.--Straight, oblong, slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Closest to 12A.

Color (immature).--Closest to 1B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General Appearance:

Height.--18 to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 14 to 15 longdays after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 0 to 1 applications of2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and very prolific, each plant having 6 to8 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (under surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Small, lobed and slightly serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Regal Desiree,as described and illustrated.